Trish Freeman joined UNL in 1981. She has served as curator of zoology for the University of Nebraska State Museum and as a professor with the School of Natural Resources. Her papers on natural history and functional morphology continue to be downloaded in high numbers on a regular basis.
Freeman said that her favorite memories stem from being a part of the East Campus community.
"I received great satisfaction in teaching my favorite courses in the School of Natural Resources on East Campus, which is really the campus of a small university where faculty, staff and students are not only very sharp, but also incredibly congenial," she said. "I have had terrific students and I hope that I have served them well."
She has also enjoyed her role at the NU State Museum.
"It was a privilege working and building the vertebrate collections in the world-class University of Nebraska State Museum," she said. "I am proud to have supervised and lead the enrichment, organization and international electronic accessibility of vertebrates – including birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fish – in the Division of Zoology."
Although technology has certainly changed and evolved during Freeman's tenure, her fondness for technology has not.
"It's proved that I am hopelessly technologically challenged," she said.
Freeman has been granted emeritus status and will retain an office in Hardin Hall. She will continue to work on current grants and begin new field research on bats.
She's also looking forward to kicking her hobbies "into high gear."
"I'm looking forward to dedication to long-term hobbies of wood-carving, playing recorder and reading about natural history plus other topics," she said. "I also plan to visit my daughter in London and generally explore parts of the U.S. and Canada that I have not yet seen."
— Mekita Rivas, Natural Resources